Brittany (French:
Bretagne; Breton: Breiz) is a region and former province of
northwestern France corresponding with the departments of Finistere,
Cotes-d'Armor, Ille-et-Vilaine, and Morbihan. A peninsula projecting
into the Atlantic Ocean, the region is bordered on the north by the
English Channel and on the south by the Bay of Biscay.

Brittany is distinct from other French
regions because of its Celtic heritage. About one-quarter of its
population of 2,815,900 (1992 est.) are able to speak
Breton, a Celtic language
similar to Cornish and Welsh. The language, customs, and costumes are
preserved mainly in the more isolated west. RENNES (1990 pop.,
203,533) is Brittany's route focus, traditional capital, and cultural
center. Its university is a center of Celtic studies.

Brittany's rugged
indented coast, called Armor (Breton for "country of the sea"), has
only about a dozen frost days a year--no more than the Riviera. Early
vegetables, soft fruit, and flowers are grown for the Parisian and
British markets. Traditionally, Bretons have been sailors and
fishermen. Their catch includes cod from the Grand Banks of
Newfoundland, oysters, lobsters, sardines, and tuna.

The interior is a
relatively barren, often misty, plateau called Argoat ("country of
the woods"); only two woodland ridges rise above 245 m (800 ft).
Hedgerows surround small fields, resulting in a picturesque landscape
called bocage.

Between 3500 and
1800 BC early inhabitants built stone monuments at CARNAC and other
sites. Celts later settled in the area, and in 56 BC they were
conquered by Julius Caesar. The Anglo-Saxon invasions of Britain in
the 5th and 6th centuries drove Celtic refugees to settle in
Brittany. In the 9th century, under the leadership of Nomenoe,
Brittany was united, winning independence from Carolingian rule. In
the 10th century, Brittany became a duchy with its capital at
Rennes. For the next 4 centuries it sought to
retain its independence amid French and British rivalries. In the
15th century the duchy became closely linked to France with the
marriage of ANNE OF BRITTANY to two successive kings of France. In
1532, it was formally incorporated into France.

Travelers
to the Brittany and Normandy sections of
France will find wild coastal areas,
sheltered beaches, dense forest, sparse
heathlands, as well as medieval and
pre-historic landmarks that help define
the area. This Rough Guide gives the
complete low-down on great sights like
Mont-Saint-Michel, Carnac, the Bayeux
Tapestry, and more. Encourages rambling on
side roads to discover the hidden charms
of rural France at its most pristine. 40
maps and plans.

FRANCE: Culture, History, Language,
Travel

Rennes

Rennes is the
municipal capital of Brittany, in northwestern France, located about
300 km (190 mi) southwest of Paris. The population is 203,533 (1990).
Wide city streets and canals radiate from the central hub of the
city, long a regional center rich in customs and historical
monuments. Rennes is an agricultural market and industrial center
producing railroad and farm equipment and automobiles. Historic
landmarks include the Jardin du Thabor and the 17th-century Palais de
Justice. The University of Rennes is there.

The principal town
of the Celtic Redones tribe, Rennes was subsequently taken by the
Romans and by the 10th century had emerged as the capital of
Brittany. The city was almost completely destroyed by fire in 1720
and suffered heavy bombing during World War II.